Henderson County unemployment rate jumps to 7.9% in January

Published: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 10:57 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 10:57 a.m.

Unemployment rates for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties increased from December to January, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Those January numbers are aligned with the rest of the state, as all 100 counties saw an increase.

In Henderson County, unemployment rates jumped 0.8 percent in December to 7.9 percent, matching January 2012's unemployment rate.

The scenario is typical for this time of the year because holiday workers lose their employment after the season is over, said Larry Parker, acting public information director for the N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Employment Security.

“The biggest loss was in the retail trade in the job sector,” Parker said.

Polk's rate climbed from 7.7 percent to 8.2 percent in January and like Henderson, it remained unchanged from the previous year.

Transylvania County's rate bumped up to 11.5 percent in January from December's 10 percent. The county's 2012 rate was 11 percent.

Graham County had the highest unemployment rate at 20.4, percent while Orange County had the lowest at 6.6 percent. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 14.1 percent experienced the highest rate and Durham-Chapel Hill at 7.7 percent had the lowest.

<p>Unemployment rates for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties increased from December to January, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.</p><p>Those January numbers are aligned with the rest of the state, as all 100 counties saw an increase. </p><p>In Henderson County, unemployment rates jumped 0.8 percent in December to 7.9 percent, matching January 2012's unemployment rate. </p><p>The scenario is typical for this time of the year because holiday workers lose their employment after the season is over, said Larry Parker, acting public information director for the N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Employment Security.</p><p>“The biggest loss was in the retail trade in the job sector,” Parker said.</p><p>Polk's rate climbed from 7.7 percent to 8.2 percent in January and like Henderson, it remained unchanged from the previous year.</p><p>Transylvania County's rate bumped up to 11.5 percent in January from December's 10 percent. The county's 2012 rate was 11 percent.</p><p>Graham County had the highest unemployment rate at 20.4, percent while Orange County had the lowest at 6.6 percent. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 14.1 percent experienced the highest rate and Durham-Chapel Hill at 7.7 percent had the lowest.</p>